A Little Perspective

"Mom, the toilet is overflowing!"

I glanced at the FIOS digital box.
The numbers read 6:17 -
a.m.!

I reached the boys' bathroom to find standing water on the floor.
It had not reached the hallway carpet.
Too bad, I thought. It needs to be replaced anyway.
Nonetheless, there was probably a couple inches of water that needed to be mopped up.

My oldest son blamed his brothers for the plugged toilet,
but he was the one who pulled the trigger.
Armed with a small mountain of towels, disinfectant, plunger and an empty, plastic bathroom trashcan,
I looked like a gladiator plumber, preparing for battle, sans the butt-crack.
Yet despite my best efforts, I was unable to contain the water,
but that's how water is...
it always flows downstream. Unfortunately, downstream in our home meant the kitchen island and floor, located directly below the boys' bathroom. More clean up required - soap, water, Mr. Clean, and you guessed it - more towels.
I phoned Jeff at work.
"Would you bring home a snake?" I began.
He realized pretty quickly that I was not requesting a King Cobra.
I HATE snakes. Christopher hung a "DO NOT USE" sign on the door.

Feeling put-upon,
I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down to watch the news. The lead story was California's weather, complete with a deluge of rainfall, resulting in mudslides; more than four feet of mud; crumpled homes and ruined lives.

It was 7:04.
I stopped complaining.
Sometimes all you need is an armload of towels and a little perspective.